Sky Sports reveals 2016 Ryder Cup coverage plans

With Europe set to go head-to-head with the USA in the battle for the 2016 Ryder Cup, Sky Sports will bring 240 hours of coverage on a dedicated channel bringing fans closer to one of the biggest events in sport.

All three days of competition will be shown exclusively live on Sky Sports Ryder Cup and coverage will also be simulcast on Sky Sports 1 from Friday to Sunday.

In addition, Sky Sports Mix – the newly launch free-to-view channel for Sky TV customers – will broadcast live coverage of the opening ceremony as well as a selection of support programming, including a new documentary on European captain Darren Clarke and the Ryder Cup Breakfast show.

Sky’s award-winning Ryder Cup coverage will be fronted by David Livingstone, with commentary and analysis from former European captains Colin Montgomerie, Tony Jacklin and Paul McGinley, as well as top American golf coach Butch Harmon and 2002 USPGA champion Rich Beem, who returns to the course where he won his maiden Major title.

The tournament between the USA and Europe tees off on Friday, September 30 at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota, USA, with Europe chasing a seventh success in eight attempts.

The traditional captain’s match will be shown live on Thursday, September 29, at 6pm ahead of the opening ceremony at 10pm – where the pairings for the Friday morning foursomes will be announced.

Coverage will run from an hour before the opening tee shot at 1.35pm right through until long after the final putt has been holed over the first two tournament days, with a bumper weekend of live golf beginning on Friday from 12.30pm.

The Sky Sports Ryder Cup channel will be back live from Hazeltine from 4pm on Sunday, ahead of the single matches getting underway from 5.05pm, with play anticipated to finish around 11pm.

As well as the live action, each morning Robert Lee will bring extended highlights and analysis from the previous day’s play in ‘Ryder Cup breakfast’, while a special round up on Monday, ‘How The Ryder Cup Was Won’, will look back at all the key moments from the week.

Sky Sports head of golf Jason Wessely said: “The Ryder Cup stands alongside the biggest sporting events in the world and it is only right that we have a channel on Sky Sports for our viewers to soak in the excitement it creates.

“By offering fans ten days of Ryder Cup programming we hope to capture all of the history, passion and drama from what should be a boisterous American crowd and a fantastic competition.”

The Ryder Cup caps Sky Sports’ biggest ever year of golf which has seen coverage of all four Majors, as well as regular live PGA Tour and European Tour golf.

There’s even more great golf for fans to look forward to at the end of 2016, with the British Masters Supported By Sky Sports and the finale of the European Tour’s Race to Dubai.

Sky Sports Ryder Cup will appear on channel 404, with extensive coverage also available on all Sky Sports platforms, while fans can also watch the action live with a NOW TV sports week pass for £10.99.

Free-to-air highlights of all three days play at Hazeltine will be broadcast on BBC Two in a late-night slot, with morning repeats also on BBC TV and Red Button, plus live radio commentary on BBC 5 live.